Deep well cooker



June 16, 1942. A, Q SHERMAN 2,286,766

A DEEP WELL cooKER Filed Jan. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-sheet 1 INV ENTOR.

Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT yOFFICE DEEP WELL COOKERAlvin G. Sherman, Grosse Pointe, Mich., assignor to Globe AmericanCorporation, Kokomo,

Ind., a corporation Application January `8, 1941, Serial No. 373,649-

4 Claims. (Cl. 126-39) This invention relates to a deep well cooker forgas ranges and the like.

In many modern gas` ranges 'a well insulated deep well cooker is usedand provides an economical and .convenient method of cooking many foods.The burner for such cookers is, however, ordinarily completely hiddenfrom view so that the regulation of the flame cannot be accomplished byeye in the usual manner. The use of pilot lights with burners of thistype has here- I-lof Fig. 5, Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are similar tofore beenextremely diilicult. This is due to the Another object of the inventionisto provide means whereby a small ame, which may be used veither as apilot light or a warming iiame, may be used in the deep well cookerwithout danger of extinguishing the flame when cooking vessels areplaced in position or removed from the well. Another object of4 theinvention is to provide a series of burners of graduated size, each ofwhich may be lighted from the burner of next higher and next lower size.

Other objects and features of the invention -rwill be understood fromthe accompanying drawings and thefollowing description and'claims:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View partly in section of a deep well cookerhaving a series of burners of three different sizes, said cooker andburners being arranged in accordance with a preferred form oftheinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevationalview partly in a sectional view taken substantially onvthe line viewswith the parts in different positions. Fig. 14 is an elevational view ofthe control knob of the valve shown in Figs. to 13, inclusive, with `thepositions of said control knob indicated for the various positions ofthe valve shown in said figures.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown therein acylindrical casing formed with inner and outer walls having a quantityof insulating material 2l therebetween. Said -casing denes a well 22within which a cooking 'utensil 23 may be placed, said utensil beingsuitably supported therein in any well known manner. is provided a maingas burner 24 which may be of any suitable type and which is suppliedwith gas through a supply pipe A25 leading from a main control valve 26mounted on a gas manifold 21. A conduit 28 leads from a position withinthe well 22 adjacent the burner 24 upwardly through the wall of thecasing 20 to a lighter hole 29 adjacent the upper edge of the well. 'Gasfrom the burner -24 may be led upwardly through said conduit and may belighted by a match applied to the lighter hole 29 to lightthe burner 24.

In the lower portion of the well 22 there is provided a housing 30 shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

- Said housing is inset in the wall of the casing the ame of one of theburners. Fig. 5 is a sec- 2li 'and has its outer end freelycommunicating with the atmosphere outside of the well 22. Ad'- jacentthe top of the inner wall of the housing 30 there is provided an opening3|. Except for the open outer end and the opening 3l the housing 30 isclosed. Associated with the housing 30 there are provided a simmerburner 32 and a warming burner 33. As m'ost clearly seen in Fig. 3, thesimmer burner is outside of the housing 30 While the warming burner 33is within said housing. A wall 34 of the housing 30 is interposedbetween said burners and the opening 3l in said wall is considerablyabove the level of either burner. Preferably both burners are mounted ona single fitting 35 having interior passages 36 and 3i for supplying gasto said burners. The tting 35 extends inwardly through a closely fittingopening in the wall 34 and thence upwardly to the burner 32.

vThe outer portion of the tting 35- terminates in a pairof mixingchambers 38 and 39 for the burners 32 and 33 respectively. A tting 40bestI In the lower portion of the well 22 there ing chamber through aninterior passage 42 con. nected to a gas supply pipe 43 in turnconnected to the main control valve 23. The mixing chamber 33 issupplied with the usual apertured air needle valve 43 is threadedlyengaged in a boss 41 on the :titting 40 and may be adjusted to determinethe amount oi gas supplied to the burner 32. A cap 48 threadedly engagedwith 'the outside of the boss 41 protects the needle valve 43 against'undesired movement.

The mixing chamber 33 or the valve 33 is provided with a fitting 43'which is similar to the fitting 40 except that the needle valve 43 andboss 41 are omitted. vThe mixing chamber 33 is also provided with anapertured air inlet cap and resilient washer similar to those describedfor the chamber 33. A gas supply pipe Il conducts gas to the iltting 43from a needle valve Il mounted upon the main control valve 23. Saidneedle valve is of a well known construction and is used to regulate thegas supply to the burner 33 i the same manner that valve 43 regulatesthe supply of the burner 32.

The main control valve 23 is preferably constructed as best seen inFigs. to 13, inclusive, and is arranged to control the supply oi' gas tothe several burners as indicated by the position of a knob B2 as shownin Fig. 14. When said knob\is in the position indicated oi." no gas issupplied to the burners. When the knob is moved to the position full on,gas is supplied to all three of the burners 24, "32 and 33. In theposition marked simmer, the main burner 24 is turned ofi but the simmerand warming asaaree tablish communication between the port 32 andburners 32 and 33 are supplied with gas. In the last position markedwai-m," only the warming burner 33 receives gas.

The valve 26 in the form illustrated herein is.

is turned. The valve stem I3 has secured thereto the operating knob l2.

The body of the valve 23 is provided with a boss 51 which is threadedlyengaged with a suitable openingin the gas manifold 21 and is providedwith a port I3 to which gas is supplied from said manifold. Anoppositely positioned boss 58 is provided with a similar port 30 and isconnected to the gasv supply pipe 23 leading to the .main burner 24. Theplug 33 is provided with a transverse port 3| adapted to providecommunication between the ports 53 and 80 when the valve is in the i'ullon" position shown in Fig. 7. Said plug is also provided with aiongitudinal port 82 communicating with the port 8| and with a chamber33 within the valve body. Chamber 63 communicates with the needle valveIl to supply gas to the warming burner 33 through a threaded opening 34adapted to receive the shank of said needle valve. The plug 33 is alsoprovided with a transverse recess 3l which, in the positions oi' thevalve shown in Figs. 8 and 9, establishes communication between the port38 and the port 32. A second transverse recess 63 in the plug 33 isadapted to esa port 31 when the valve is in the position shown in Figs.11 and 12. The port 31 is formed in a boss 33 to which the gas supplypipe 43 leading to the simmer burner 32 is connected.

By means oi' the construction just shown, it will be obvious that whenthe plug\53 is in the "OiI" position shown in Figs. 6 and 10 there is nocommunication between the supply port 53 and any oi `the ports leadingto the burners. In the position of Figs. 7 and 11, corresponding to theFull on position oi the knob 52 in Fig. 14, communication is establishedbetween ports 33 and 33 through port 6I for the main burner, throughports I3, 8|, 32, 66 and 61 for the simmer burner 32 and from port 62through chamber 33 i'or the warming burner 33. The position of the partsshown in Figs. 8 and 12 corresponds to the Simmer" position of the knob52 and in this position the port 30 for the main burner is blanked off.Gas is supplied to port 82 for the other two burners through thetransverse recess 33. The position of the parts shown in Figs. 9 and 13corresponds to the Warm position of the knob I2 in Fig. 14. In thatposition the ports 30 and 31 leading respectively to the main burner 24and the simmerI burner 32 are both blanked but communication is stillestablished from port 33 through the recess 65 and port 62 to thechamber 33 for the warming burner 33. f

In the use-of the apparatus just described, the

knob 52 is first turned from the Oil to the "Full on position. a lightedmatch is applied to the lighter hole 29 and the main burner 24 islighted. The simmer burner 32 is sufficiently close to the main burner'to be lighted directly therefrom. 'I'he undersurface of the roof of thehousing 30 is provided with an upwardly sloping portion 68 best seen inFig. 3 and this portion oi the roof guides at least a part of the gasfrom the burner 33 through the opening 3|. The warming burner 331stherefore lighted from the simmer burner 32. Thus with the control knobin the Full on" position. all three burners may be lighted from thesingle lighter hole. The intensity oi the main burner ilame may beregulated as desired by positioning the knob 52 at intermediate pointsbetween the Ofi" and the "Full on positions. However. the parts areproportioned so that the Full on" position corresponds to the maximumllame desired for boiling. Since in the use of a deep well cooker themain burner is used for a short time only, the regulation of the mainburner itself is not of great importance.

When the food in the cooker has been brought to a boil, the knob 52 maybe turned to the Simmer" position. In that position the main burner isturned of! as previously described. the simmer and warming burnersremaining lighted. The intensity of the flame of these two burners maybe accurately predetermined by the adjustment of the needle valves 46and 5I to provide sutilcient heat to keep the food at the desiredcooking point. Thus the cooker may be used for this purpose with anaccurately predetermined name without the necessity of the llame beingvisible to the cook. If it is desired only to keep the food warm, theknob 52 is turned to the "Warm" position and the simmer burner 32 isthereby extinguished. The intensity of the flame of the vfarming burneris accurately predetermined by the needle valv'e'i to maintain a properwarm condition within'the well.

13 is secured to the roof of the housing 30 and extends partially overthe burner 32. This plate serves to trap gas from the burner` 32 andlead the same through opening 3l into the housing 30. Thus, when theknob 52 is moved'from'the Warm to the Simmer position, the simmer burner32 islighted from the warming burner 33. Similarly, when the knob 52 ismoved from the "Simmer to the Full on" position, the main burner 24 islighted from the simmer burner 32. Thus, the arrangement is such thatonce the main burner has been lighted, the main control valve may be runthroughany desired sequence of operating positions and the burners willbe properly lighted in each position unless the sequence includes areturn to the Ofi position.

One of the principal functions of the housing 30 is to prevent thewarming burnerl 33 from being extinguished when a cooking utensil isplaced within the well or withdrawn therefrom. In either case thepiston-like act-ion of the utensil causes a rushof air through theopening 3l and j the open outer end of the housing 30. The position ofthe opening 3|, considerably above the level of the burner 33, insuresthat this rush of air cannot reach the -base of the flame of saidburner. Thus. a relatively small flame may be maintained without dangerof extinguishment.

The invention has been described in one of its preferred forms, thedetails of which may be varied between wide limits without departingfrom the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. In a deep well cooker, a casing forming a cooking well, a gas burnerin the lower portion of said well, a housing in the lower portion ofsaid well, the interior o! said housing com- M municating with theatmosphere outside of said well, and a warming burner in said housing, aside wall of said housing being interposed between said burners andhaving an opening therein for passage of gas for igniting one burnerfrom the other, and said warming burner having its gas orifice below thelevel oi' said opening whereby the flame of said 4second burner isprotected against extinguishment caused by a rush of air through saidopening as a cooking vessel is lowered into or lifted .from said well.

2. In a deep well cooker, a casing forming a cooking wella housing Vinthe lower portion of said well adjacent a side thereof, a warming burnerin said housing, a main burner adjacent the bottom of said well, and asimmer burner located between said housing and said main burner andsufficiently close to said main burner so that each may be lighted fromthe iiame of the other, said housing having an opening therein for.passage of gas for lighting the warming burner from the simmer burnerand vice versa. and said housing protecting said -warmingburner fromextinguishment when a. cooking vessel is lowered into said well orremoved therefrom.

3. In a deep well cooker, a casing forming a cooking well, a housing inthe lower portion of said well adjacent a side thereof, a warming burnerin said housing, a main burner adjacent the bottom of said well, andasimmer burnerlocated between said housing and said main' burner and.sufficiently close to said main burner so that each may be lighted fromthe flame of the other, said housing having an opening therein forpassage of gas for lighting the warming burner from the simmer burnerand vice versa, and means forming a passage for gas from said mainburner t'o a lighting hole adjacent the upper edge of said well forlighting said main f burner. y

4. In a deep well cooker, a casing forming a cooking well, a housing inthe lowe'r portion` of said well adjacent a side thereof, a warmingburner in said housing, a main burner adjacent the bottom of said well,and a simmer burner locatedbetween said housing and said main burner andsufficiently close to said niain burner so that eachmay be lighted fromthe flame of the other, said housingv having anopening theree 'in forpassage off-gas for lighting the' warming burner from the simmer burnerand vice versa, a. gas supply pipe leading to each of said burners, anda single valve means controlling gas supply to all of said supply pipesand operable progressively through a series of four positions in rst ofwhich no gas is supplied to any of said burners, in the second of whichgas is supplied of all of said burners, in the third of which gas issupplied to the simmer and warming burners only and in the fourth ofwhich gas is supplied to the warming burner only.

ALVIN G. SHERMAN.

